Canadian police have closed roads and told residents to stay indoors in a small New Brunswick city following the shooting death of three police officers. The gunman fled and police continue searching for him.

The shooting happened in the Canadian city of Moncton late Wednesday evening, according to Reuters Canada. The shooter, who has been identified as Justin Bourque, 24, shot five police officers, killing three while the others sustained non-life threatening injuries. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has begun a manhunt for Bourque and has warned local residents to remain indoors for Bourque is considered highly dangerous.

Canada, which has very strict gun laws, rarely experiences mass shootings, and the last shooting to involve police officers happened in 2005 when five officers were killed, reports Reuters Canada. According to city officials, Moncton had not seen any murders in 2013. However, the renegade gunman, who opposes Canada's strict gun control laws, according to his alleged Facebook page, shot the three officers without any known motive.

According to USA Today, the RCMP was tweeting instructions for residents Thursday morning: "If you live in the marked area stay inside / lock doors. Roads blocked. Traffic disrupted. Avoid area"

The RCMP's Constable Damien Theriault told reporters that the suspect was wearing camouflaged attire and carrying two rifles. He also expressed his grief over the events.

"I lost three friends," Theriault told Canada's CBC News. "And now we need to pull together and locate this individual as quickly as possible to ensure everyone's safety. "We are professionals and we have a job to do right now. We will have time to grieve after."

New Brunswick Premier David Alward expressed his condolences and asked residents to follow police orders.

"On behalf of all New Brunswickers, I would like to my thoughts and prayers to those affected," Alward said. "I would ask New Brunswickers, particularly those in areas identified by police, to follow the situation as it develops and follow the advice of police."